Mrs. Jurysta's Class

Welcome!

Welcome to my classroom website! I am thrilled to be entering my 12th year in the Slippery Rock Area School District! I have high expectations for my students, and I anticipate that this will be an outstanding school year! Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns:

Phone: (724) 865-2010 ext. 4106

Email: [email protected]

About Me

I received my undergraduate degree in education from Seton Hill University. I have dual certification in General Education Pre-K through Grade 4 and Special Education Pre-K through Grade 8. I also obtained my master's degree in reading from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

I currently live with my husband, my daughter, and my dog in Butler. In my spare time, I love to read, craft, and spend time with my friends and family.

I also LOVE teaching!

Rules for Mrs. Jurysta’s Classroom

1)   Listen the first time.

Listening the first time prevents confrontation and makes for a much more productive learning environment. Students will gain trust from the teacher, and the teacher will, in turn, give students more privileges and responsibilities.

2)   ALWAYS tell the truth.

Learning to tell the truth is a difficult concept for young students, but the earlier honesty is learned, the better. Students who learn to tell the truth gain trust and respect from their teachers and their peers, and build stronger relationships with them as well. Telling the truth also prevents further confrontation and more severe consequences.

3)   Treat everyone and everything with respect (the way you want to be treated).

Students are not expected to be best friends with every other person in the room, but they are expected to be civil with each other and treat their peers the way they, themselves, want to be treated. Bullying is not tolerated. Students must also treat their classrooms and their school with respect by keeping their desks neat, putting things back where they belong, and taking care of supplies. NO gum!

These rules are designed to uphold my classroom vision that students will be able to enter a safe and happy learning environment. It is my goal for students to treat each other with kindness, participate, and have fun while learning. My classroom will be a positive space where students will feel safe physically, socially, and emotionally. Here, students will build skills and values that will help them grow into healthy and productive individuals. By instilling these values in our children, we can contribute to creating a bright future for our children and making the world just a little bit sweeter.

Consequences:

My behavior system is simple. Students will receive tickets for participation and positive behavior. At the end of the week, one name is drawn from each class to receive a prize. The rest receive water bottle stickers or BARK cash for a chance to win a prize from the office. If students misbehave, it will be documented, and parents will be notified with a "Fix It Ticket" in their child's agenda. This must be signed by a parent or guardian and returned the next day.

Parent Involvement

Vision:

It is my sincere hope to work together with parents to create an enriching classroom experience for our children. Together, we can work to successfully teach our children important academics, values, and life skills that will help them to thrive in our ever-changing society. My door is always open to parents and families who wish to take part in their child's learning experience.

*Donations of tissues and disinfecting wipes are always appreciated!

Homework

It is my personal belief that students should not be overwhelmed by homework at the end of the school day or on the weekends. I typically assign homework packets that are in the same format as the tests I give from our textbook company. Students will have ample time to complete these packets - usually anywhere from 10-12 days. I may also have students finish in-class assignments for homework if they are not on task or using their time wisely in the classroom, if they are absent, or if it is necessary for the following day's lesson. A spelling pretest will be assigned every Thursday and must be signed by a parent or guardian upon completion. There will be NO spelling packets this year. Please take the time to ensure that your child is completing the homework assignments and turning them in on time. They do count toward a participation grade. In addition, studying for tests is ALWAYS part of their homework. In a ten-day reading cycle, students will receive two spelling tests, two grammar quizzes, one vocabulary test, one reading skills test, and one open-book comprehension test. In a six-day reading cycle, students will only receive one of each test.

How You Can Help at Home:

I strongly encourage you to make everything a learning experience for your child. Allow them to participate in baking, shopping, and other activities that involve math, science, reading, and other concepts. Also, choose books to read at home. Read a chapter or two before bed, and model for your children just how fun reading can be. Be sure to ask them questions about what they read to check their understanding. Encourage them to read by taking them to the library and allowing them to choose their own books. Take turns reading paragraphs or pages. Dedicate time to practicing and reinforcing skills learned at school. If you are ever in need of ideas or resources, please do not hesitate to ask! I try my best to upload resources to my Google Classroom as well.

Reminders:

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact me via ParentSquare or school phone. Please visit the top of this page or the staff directory for my email address and school phone number. Know that I am always available to help in any way I can.